San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-01-27
Gov. Ross Message.


The message following Gov. Ross in.
augural, in which questions of State policy
We're elubomtely presented, leaves little of
new interest to the public beyond the Gov
errors suggestion Of special subjects for
legislation. These subjects are revenue
and taxation, peuitantiaries. public lands,
stock interests, State troops and militia, the
railroad amendments to the Constitution
and laws, and n prohibtory Amendment, to
which last subject he aliules Us follows:
PRoHlDIroRY AMENDMENT.
There are many conscentiOus honest ad-
vo mtes of prohibition us a remedy for the
adm.tc,, evils of intemperanue in our state,
who believe that this is one of the great
political questions which should be decided
by an appeal TO the ba!ot-boX, while there
are others equally conscientious and pntri-
otto who do not believe that real temper
ance can be decreed, created or produced
by any process under the operation of pro-
hibtlon entctmonts. In considering this
question, il is proper we should bear in
mind that i'll our country the people are
recognized as the origin and seat OF politi-
cal power, and that constitutions flow from
them instead Of beng concessions to them,
being simply rule Of action defined by
themselves for themselves. l therefore
suggest to your honorable bodies the pro
priety of submitting for public consiao.N-
ton su, h an amendment OF this character
as you, in your wisdom, may conclude is
demanded by the will of the people. The
respective members Of your honorable bod
les arc fresh from the people and know their
wishes, ana your conclusion upon the mat.
ter will be accepted " al good citizens Us
definite aid authoritative.
RAILROAD POOLING.
The subject of railroads is treated at con
siderable length. One extract touching the
practice of pooling rates, against which
Gov. Ross recommends heroic legislation,
is particularly Interesting:
If our laws and Constitution are wrong,
they should he changed, but we should
never submit to have them defed and set
udught. Better the unsettiement Of bust
ness and the continued equality of rates
than this, and better the total abolition of
with all their blessings nli banc
fits than that " few men i'll the distant To-
cality should possess and exercise the power
to levy an cXnction ut any moment upon cur
people by q change in transportation rates
which, if done by the constituted author- |
ties OF the State, would precipitate poIiti- |
cal revolution. | respectfully suggest to !
your honorable bod the propriety of en- |
acting that hereafter pooling or combina- |
tons between railroads and other common
carriers shall be deemed unlawful, aud if !
any officer, agent, servant or employe there
o.
of that character, or shall operate or assist |
in operating railroad under such an agree
mont or shall knowingly aid "r assist in
The operation of Il railroad under such ar
rangemcnt, he shall be deemed guilty of Il
felony aud be imprisoned in the ponitcn-
tiary for proper term of years. Our laws
Of conspiracy might also be amended to
embrace the same transactions and thus
put a stop to practice which has frequent
" been stigmatized by the courts as Grim
nal conspiracy against the public.
TIE STOCK INTEREST.
Gov. Ross also favors Il quarantine against
attic disease, and speaks of the stock inter
st of the State rs follows:
This great interest Of our State is sur
'ounded 10y many serious emharrassmeuts
md depressing agencies. Under existing
continuation schedule rates the stock-uIIslr
Al not reach profitable market with the
product If his herd 10y railway. and If b.
escorts 10 the long aud expensive overland
lrivc, he scarcely passes the border Of MS
,wn State before he is yictimized by the cN-
ctious of Jealous aud hostile nrighhoring
States through the agency of quarantine uad
Inspection laws. AMI when at .asi he reach
q